HTC went ahead and modified the firmware, removing the infringing feature -- "data tapping", the process of converting text line phone numbers to actionable links which open menus, a UI development guarded by Apple's U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647. Apple filed the patent in 1996, long before it devoted significant resources to phone development; in fact the feature appears to have been originally intended for PC software.

The good news is that after lots of media scrutiny HTC indicated last Monday that phones had began to trickle through. Today it announced that the release was complete, commenting, "HTC devices have been released, as they are in compliance with the ITC's ruling."

In a statement to The Verge, HTC says it does not anticipate any further delays. That's good news for the company, considering its financially precarious state. Reviews of the One X have generally been quite good, so HTC now hopes to make up for lost time and capitalize on that positive buzz.